Feeling slightly aggrieved :(

[Lozza12]

Hello,

I've recently started a Julii campaign on VH/M (Large), following a stalemated game as Brutii in which I conquered half of the Balkans but ran out of Generals! (they just didn't seem to reproduce).

Unfortunately, it appears I may have got a bit complacent fighting the slower-moving Greeks as my traditional "line of Hastati followed by line of Velites" has....er....failed. I was confronted with a full stack of Gauls under a 10-star General & I had an equal size stack under my up-and-coming 3 star General. I figured I would beat the hairy Gauls nonetheless. Imagine my pain when my new Hastati units wavered & fled after losing about 10 guys each! I admit to being complacent about trying to flank, but it was 2am and my energy levels were low.

I guess what I'm asking is:

• can Hastati hold out when confronted by Heavy Spear Warbands & Swordsmen?
• What are the mathematical bonuses for 10 star Generals & high-chevron units?
• How do you "outflank" an enemy when you have equal numbers of units but limited cavalry?

Never thought I'd have to ask for help :original:

Cheers,

Lozza12

[John I Tzimisces]

Hastati, Principes, Triarii, in that order, Hastati up front. Set the Hastati (4 units of them or so) to fire at will. If you have velites, put them in front of the Hastati, so they can loose a volley and then retreat behind the hastati. Make sure you are using Lt's shield wall (click the button that says loose formation, it means they'll go into shield wall, roman soldiers only), and gaurd mode to make it easier to manage your line. If the gauls haven't run for the hills yet, hold the line, try to circle around a bit with the principes, and bring your general around the back. Works for me anyhow.

[Lozza12]

Imperator & Makeshift,

Ah - the Shield Wall on Loose Formation. I didn't know that.

No Principes & Triarii yet - it's only first few years into the game & I hate damaging the advanced units before I can retrain them.

Cheers,

Lozza12

[makeshift52]

Similar strategy, and hastati can hold a line provided they are reinforced when the going gets tough...

[Sidmen]

Hasti are very weak in SPQR, and frighten easily, kind of like children(which makes sence since these are the young of Rome) In my recent Scipii campaign I had to use only precepees<spelling> to avoid being routed every battle. My only advice to you is to take out all the nearby rebel settlements and enslave them so you can get some decent units.

[makeshift52]

However, that strategy is against the house rules.

[Sidmen]

Thoes are more like guidelines. LT has said over and over to do what is fun to you. Having half my army rout in 10 minutes isn't too much fun for me, and If I was a general in thoes times, I would give some proper armor and training to my troops. A dead man is worthless, but a drilled vet is useful beyond gold.

[makeshift52]

However, money and time was pressing, they were only powerful for a year...

[Sidmen]

Indeed, and in my game money is still pressing. But the way I figure it is: If I kill 1000 men armored in a breastplate (peoni) where is that brestplate? Someone took them, and most likely sold them or melted them down for scrap, so thats where my money for the extra chainmail comes from. And while my men only serve for a year, they are required to leave the chain behind before recieving thier dismissal papers.

[lt1956]

They went to the triarii and principes. lol Realistically back then you had alot of Green units, and you had to use them the right way, mainly cannon fodder. If you dont build historical armies you lose the feel of what it was like to fight back them in battle. Personally Hastatii dont rout that bad, you may be fighting without proper support.

You know my recommended size, and units for a Legion, you should try that, thats part of the fun for me. No fun just building 20 units of Late cohorts, then your just playing command and conquer and not an historical ancient battle.

[Savage_Swede]

One thing that i used for the first time i played SPQR (whitout knowing jack:wub: about house rules) was hastatii hordes. As i was used to always blitzing i didnt want to wait for my cities to evolve so i could get better troops, so i just recruited hoooordes of hastatii to send to greece to swarm the greeks and macedonians.

I have evolved alot as a player now so now im playing house rules like a real schoolboy.

[Sidmen]

Hehe, I simply replaced the Hasti with principes. Realy, I never have more than 9 of any 1 unit, and thats usually pikemen. I may loose a bit of the 'feel' but I gain a victory or two before I have to run away from sicily again to retrain and refit. So sushhh, I'm having fun with a roman faction! (Stupid romans, think they're so great)

[makeshift52]

Well, it is all good fun...